10 Best RC Quadcopter Drones With Camera And GPS For Sale 2018

Compared with traditional fixed wing drones, an RC quadcopter is a remote control drone that operates using 4 rotors, each consisting of a motor and propeller.

RC drones are typically used for recreational purposes, but drone technology has reached a level where even the best drone for beginners can offer features that satisfy the most avid enthusiast or professional.

For example, drones like Mavic Pro come equipped with a 4K camera that’s stabilized by a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, allowing users to shoot in hyperlapse mode and capture stills in 20 megapixels.

With so many flying drones on the market, it’s hard to identify which is the best RC quadcopter to buy. Among these UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) there are few bad options, but there are significant differences between each model that should be considered before purchasing one.

Which RC drone has the best camera capabilities? Which has the longest flight time? Which has the best accessories? Which is the best drone for kids?

Below, we’ve outlined the top RC quadcopters on the market. Read on, and happy piloting.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

The Mavic 2 Pro is the flagship consumer drone from DJI, designed with both professionals and hobbyists in mind. For the second iteration of the Mavic Pro, DJI teamed up with Hasselblad, the renowned Swiss camera maker, to create one of the best aerial photography drones on the market.

The Mavic 2 Pro is equipped with a 1-inch CMOS sensor, offering 20 megapixels with enhanced HDR and color sensitivity. With sport mode activated, the Mavic 2 Pro can reach an impressive 45 mph, and a powerful onboard battery can keep the RC quad in the air for 31 minutes, the longest among all modern consumer drones.

Features and Specs:

31 Minute Flight Time

45mph (72 kph) Max Speed in sport mode

8 km flight range

4K HDR video resolution at 30fps

High-performance zoom lens with adjustable aperture from f/2.8-f/11

Records Hyperlapse footage

Equipped with Active Track, Waypoint, and Point of Interest modes for photographers

DJI Mavic Air

The DJI Mavic Air is the most travel-friendly drone that DJI offers. It’s foldable, weighs less than 1lb, and is capable of recording footage in 4K. These qualities have made it one of the most sought-after RC drones on the market.

Because it’s so dynamic, the Mavic Air has been heralded as an engineering marvel and arguably the best small drone to buy. It’s the ideal RC quadcopter for travelers or content creators on the move.

Features and Specs:

21 Minute Flight Time

25mph (45kph) Max Speed while in sport mode

3-axis gimbal and 4K video resolution at 30fps

32 MP sphere panoramas

3-direction environmental sensing

Weighs less than 1lb – extremely portable

8 GB of storage

SmartCapture allows you to control the Mavic Air with simple hand gestures

TapFly lets you control the Mavic Air from your mobile device

ActiveTrack allows the Mavic Air to detect up to 16 objects simultaneously, making it easy to track a moving target

A forward-mounted 1080p HD camera streams footage directly to your smartphone, courtesy of crystal clear 5G Transmission. Like the drones discussed in our UDI U818A 1 Discovery review, the HS700 is simple to control and a joy to pilot for beginners and intermediate owners alike.

Features and Specs:

20 Minute Flight Time

Brushless Motor creates a silent and powerful flight experience

3280ft max control range

1080p HD camera streams directly to smartphone

FPV capabilities make the HS700 great for aspiring racers

Simple controls make piloting easy

GPS Follow Me directs drone to follow user and target with camera

Auto Return ensures that HS700 will return to takeoff point if batteries fail or connection is lost

DJI Phantom 4

While the DJI Phantom 4 isn’t the newest drone on this list, it’s certainly one of the most respected. Beautiful design, high performance, and an incredible camera system have cemented its stellar reputation among drone pilots.

The Phantom 4 is a long range RC drone with an intelligent flight positioning system, which connects the drone to satellites via GPS and GLONASS, allowing it to move precisely through the air.

Potensic T25 GPS FPV

At its price point, the Potensic T25 GPS FPV is perhaps the most functional remote control drone you can buy. Equipped with dual GPS and GLONASS positioning systems, the T25 moves through the air with precision, and returns to the pilot when the power runs low or the signal falls out.

A powerful, forward-facing 1080p camera provides FPV pilots with clear transmissions from the T25’s aerial journey, and controlling the RC drone is made simple by functions such as Headless Mode, Altitude Hold, and 1-key takeoff and landing. Bright LED lights make flying at night easy, and an unusually far 300m drone remote control distance create a thrilling flight experience.

DJI Phantom 3 SE

The Phantom 3 is one of the most popular RC quadcopters made by DJI. Designed with a slick white and yellow finish, the Phantom can fly up to 4km from the pilot and is equipped with an impressive 4K camera capable of high-definition 12MP stills.

25-minute max battery life and numerous intelligent flight features make the Phantom 3 a joy to pilot, and an advanced Vision Positioning system ensures that even the most novice users can fly this formidable quad.

Features and Specs:

25 Minute Flight Time

35mph Max Speed

4K 30fps video

12MP photos

94° field of view

4km range

WiFi video transmission system allows for long flights with crystal clear video

DJI Spark

The Spark is the smallest drone produced by popular manufacturer DJI, but that doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly versatile. Spark is FPV enabled, and boasts an impressive 16-minute flight time, which allows users to take full advantage of a 12MP camera that records crystal clear 1080p video.

The Spark’s FaceAware feature, an advanced facial recognition program, makes it the perfect selfie drone, but to write it off as a glorified selfie stick would be horribly misguided. Among petite flying drones, its exceptionally durable frame offers limitless creative opportunities, and its ultra-portability makes it a fantastic travel buddy.

Features and Specs:

16 Minute Flight Time

31mph Max Speed with sport mode engaged

12MP camera captures stills and records incredible 1080p video

Weighs a mere 300g

FaceAware function makes it the perfect selfie drone

Simple Control allows user to guide the Spark with simple hand gestures

DJI Inspire 1 V2.0

The Inspire 1 V.20 is a unique RC quadcopter. It sports a best-in-class camera, and was designed with professional photographers and filmmakers in mind. Unlike other filmmaker-oriented RC drones, the Inspire 1 V2.0 is equipped with dual-operator mode, which allows one person to pilot the quadcopter while another controls the camera and gimbal.

It’s been reengineered with a powerful new propulsion system, making it one of the fastest consumer drones available. An intelligent power management system offers live battery reports and predicts how much time pilots have before the Inspire 1 V2.0 needs to land.

Features and Specs:

18 Minute Flight Time

49mph (79 kph) Max Speed

12MP camera shoots excellent 4k at 24-30fps, or 1080p at 24-60fps

1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor

3-axis, 360-degree rotating gimbal provides unrestricted viewing

Motor upgrades offer a greater sense of control than the DJI Inspire 1

Yuneec Breeze 4K Selfie Drone

The Yuneec Breeze 4K Selfie Drone is much more than a smart selfie stick. Its petite, 24cm frame is equipped with an integrated and pivotable 4K ultra HD camera, and comes loaded with a host of intelligent flight modes that ensure unforgettable cinematic stills.

Thanks to the Breeze’s intelligent GPS and IPS (indoor positioning system), the mini RC drone can remain in a fixed position even when the pilot lets go of the controls. Users are then able to upload photos and videos directly to social media, sharing their experiences as they go.

Features and Specs:

12 Minute Flight Time

11mph Max Speed

13 MP camera

4K resolution

117° field of view

Flies up to 262ft (80m)

Pilot Mode gives you full control of the Breeze using your smart device

Yuneec Mantis Q

The Mantis Q is Yuneec’s response to the DJI’s Mavic series. Like the Mavic Air, the Mantis Q weighs about 1lb. Its slight but sturdy frame makes it an ideal quadcopter for travelers, and with foldable arms it can slip into a bag without taking up much room.

It comes with a class-leading battery, allowing for 33 minutes of flight time, and a surprisingly powerful propulsion system that can push the RC drone up to 44 mph. An integrated camera is capable of capturing Ultra HD 4K footage.

The Mantis Q even responds to voice commands, such as “Take a picture”, “Record a video”, “Wake Up”, and “Take a selfie”.

Features and Specs:

33 Minute Flight Time

44 mph (71 kph) max speed

Integrated 4K UHD camera

Foldable arms make it ideal for travel

Facial detection systems register the pilot’s face, and can take photos from 13ft away

Holy Stone HS100G Drone

While the HS100G Drone from Holystone isn’t loaded with intelligent features, it still has GPS functions and first-person view capabilities that ensure owners will have a fun time flying without worrying about losing their RC quad. Its simple functionality might make it the best kids drone for sale.

Finished with a sleek black design, the HS100G is simple and quick, and comes programmed with features like Headless Mode and Altitude hold which eases pilots into the experience of flying. A respectable 1080p full HD camera with 120° field of view also makes it easy to take selfies with Follow Me mode activated.

Features and Specs:

15 Minute Flight Time

Upgraded 1080p full HD camera

120° field of view and 90° adjustable angle captures all movement

5G FPV WiFi allows pilots to see what their drone sees anywhere within 1600ft

GPS Return Home function ensures that the HS100G will return to the pilot whenever the connection is lost or the batteries run low

Which Drone Is Right For You?

It’s virtually impossible to find a fixed wing drone for sale that possesses the same capabilities as an RC quadcopter. While fixed wing drones are often the best drones for agriculture surveys and land mapping, they lack camera capabilities, portability, and the extreme agility of RC quadcopters.

Between the top RC drones, how should you make a decision? It depends on what you want from the aircraft.

If you’re interested in photography or videography, the DJI and Yuneec models should be at the top of your list. While they come at a higher price-point than other camera-equipped quadcopters, their superlative craftsmanship and high performance justify the cost for content creators.

If you’re interested in racing, you should consider models with first-person view (FPV) capabilities. They allow you to stream directly from the drone’s camera, and track what the drone sees in real time. These models are often more affordable, and are fun for drone pilots of all levels.

Lastly, If you’re interested in the federal laws regarding UAV operation, check out Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Administration regulations, which concern small unmanned aircraft. If you’re going to pilot any sort of drone, you’ll need to follow these rules.